By Ethan Harrigan – Sports Editor

The Jonathan Law boys soccer team ended its season on November 11 with a regular season record of 7-4.

The team was led by Head Coach Michael Gruber, Assistant Coach Jason Sales and four captains: Senior Jacob Nastasia, Senior Jonathan Contaxis, Junior Lex Edwards and Junior Jaden Wywoda.

This year the team made it to the semifinals of the Division C SCC Tournament, ending the season with a loss to West Haven.

“Even with COVID, the coaches and players did the best we could to have a successful season and performed well in the regular season, regardless of playoff results I’m proud of how our team did,” Nastasia said. In the end we took down every team in our division at least once.”

Law lost by more than one goal in only one game this year, and only a late goal by West Haven in the last two seconds of the semi finals game kept it from going into extra time.

“From the start of the year to the end of year, I believe this team made huge strides, and it showed when we got to the semifinal game and lost in last seconds to the eventual SCC champion West Haven this year,” Gruber said. “Even though we lost that game it taught us a lesson in which we can compete with anyone in the state on any given day something we strive to do.”

The team scored a goal in all but two games this season, scoring a total of 20 goals in the regular season, while only allowing 12.

“One of the goals this team had this year was to score goals, and in our 13 games this season, 11 games we did that,” Gruber said. “I also think each player developed at their own rate and offered something to the team whether it translated in a game or in practice which is important.”

Edwards and Senior Fillipe Mourau were selected for All-SCC honors for their performance on the field.

“I thought it was my best season yet,” Mourau said. “I think I could’ve done better but it was enough to get me the All-SCC award and I’m really proud of that achievement.”

This year, COVID-19 regulations created a shortened season and added extra safety procedures like wearing masks before and after practice, as well as on the bench. The first few weeks of practice included separate cohorts, with an arrangement that did not allow for scrimmages and other activities involving contact.

“I think it’s always a process from the start of the year to the end of the year,” Gruber said. “Especially with this year where we were able to break things down in small cohorts and work on more technical training in the beginning I think it helped us.” 

Four freshmen made the varsity roster this year and freshman Cooper Fitzgerald started every game this season.

“I was welcomed by open arms into a sort of brotherhood that I’d never been a part of”, Fitzgerald said. “Making the roster as a freshman was very exciting for me, I had been working pretty hard for it for a long time, and it was nice to know that work had paid off.”

Wywoda believes the team has the potential to play even better next season with its returning players.

“We have a super strong junior class this year and I believe that this upcoming senior class will play a huge role in our upcoming success,” Wywoda said. “We also have some young players who had a year to develop and I feel it will benefit us a lot.”